Malcolm Turnbull has launched a daring bid to secure an election victory by forcing the Senate to decide on crucial workplace relations reforms within weeks.
Bill Shorten dismissed yesterdays surprise moves as signs of panic, but Mr Turnbulls allies insisted the government had a tax reform plan ready and a series of election policies devised to prevail at the polls in the likely event the Senate fails to pass a key bill to restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Mr Turnbull advised Governor-General Peter Cosgrove yesterday morning to summon parliament to return to Canberra on April 18 - three weeks earlier than scheduled - to decide on the ABCC bill, making it a new trigger for a double dissolution.
Mr Turnbull announced that the recall of parliament would be followed by a federal budget on May 3, one week earlier than planned.
The government believes it can win a 103-day campaign from now until July 2 and secure a result with fewer crossbench senators to stymie its agenda.
